Month: April 2017

In many parts of the world, ovens are too expensive to be practical. Baking is an unknown skill for homemakers. This oven is a big part of our ministry as we reach out to people. Many are curious to see how it works since it is unique. But they are happiest when the brownies are done!

The tin can oven (to the right, on the shelf) sets on top of a round charcoal burner (on the left). The tin can oven is constructed from a cooking oil can and features a separately constructed tin cover. Both the oven and the lid have wooden handles for easy grasping when hot. There is a round hole–a little smaller than the charcoal burner–cut into the bottom of the can to allow the heat to enter. The round cut-out has holes punched into it and a wire handle attached. This is used as needed to prevent flames from entering the oven. Heavy wire is woven horizontally through the middle in three or four places to form a rack.

I will publish additional versions and alterations in detailed pictures in the near future. If you have questions about judging the temperature or maintaining the proper heat, please ask in the comment space below.

The journey through life–especially if you unquestioningly follow God’s leading–can take many twists and turns. Although I have written many instruction manuals, articles and letters, I never had any ambition to write a book. I didn’t even enjoy creative writing classes in school, and never thought of myself as an author. But, how things can change! I am now nearing completion of a church planting book that comes from a lifetime of experience–from first hand knowledge and from first hand reporting from other sources.

Those of you who know me, know how much I like to see the humorous side to almost every situation. My working title of the book is CHURCH PLANTERS HAVE ALL THE FUN(DING)! Not only do we have all the fun, we have amazing resources for funding. There are many books on the market that talk about church planting. They tell you all about why you should plant churches and how to do it. That is not the primary purpose of my book. I am attempting to help church planters find the funding that is needed to plant their churches without getting grants and large donations from outside sources. There is strong evidence that large donations to the church from outside the congregation create a sense of church welfare and dependency. The young congregation doesn’t see the need to give when the provision is already in place. Consciously, or subconsciously, they don’t understand the sudden need when the donations dry up. In their minds, either the pastor just wants more money for himself, or surely the pastor will find another source of funds. Many churches have disbanded due to lack of funds.

Whether your church plant is reaching the wealthy, or it is located in a tribal Third World situation, there are creative ways to solve the church’s financial needs. Best of all, you can have fun doing it. God doesn’t call us to be sad in service to Him, even if he places us in situations of hardship, grief, and despair.

If you want to learn more about these exciting possibilities, watch my blog for excerpts from my book and the big announcement of its publication date, expected by the end of summer, 2017.

When you take a child with you to the mission field, all sorts of funny things can happen. Looking at life–even strange new surroundings–can bring on interesting concepts and off-the-wall insights. But, before I get to the story, let me tell you about a long-standing deal Rick (my husband) and I have had with our only child, Emily. Knowing how preacher’s kids and missionary kids are a great source of sermon illustrations, and how much they don’t like it, we found a way to solve both problems. Emily would listen carefully to her dad’s sermon or to my speaking. Every time we mentioned her name or used a pronoun that referred to her, she would get 25 cents. She would carry pencil and paper to keep track so she could collect afterwards. Even though this cost us a little, the up-side is that Emily was glad to hear us, and she listened to what we had to say. Incentives help! Since we put no time limit on that deal, she still thinks we owe her, even though she is already 40! Maybe I already owe her more than $3.00 by now so I’d better get to my story.

Almost every day Rick would go for a run around the neighborhood. Sometimes Emily (age 12 at the time) would pace him on her bicycle. They passed many houses, businesses, and a Mormon church. One day Rick and Emily noticed that workers were doing roof repair on the church. The workers accessed the roof with a very long ladder. Emily said, “I guess that’s why they call them ‘Ladder’ Day Saints!”

I haven’t added up how much she thinks I owe her. I’m sure she will want to be paid per visitor to my blog. I want to hear from all my readers, but you do know I will go into debt for each comment! Oh well. Feel free to comment–I’ll deal with Emily! Thank you.